Tim Henman's eagerly awaited quarter-final clash with Brazil's Andre Sa got off to the perfect start before the notorious Wimbledon weather ended his hopes of progressing to his fourth semi-final at the All England Club. The British number one looked assured as he raced to a 6-3 first set victory before rain stopped play on a cold and dismal evening in SW19.
Henman will be hoping there is no repeat of last year when his three day duel with eventual winner Goran Ivanisevic ended in disappointment, although on today's evidence, a possible semi-final meeting with world number one Lleyton Hewitt looks well within his reach.
The players only got on court at 6.09pm and that first session lasted only seven minutes. When the players returned at 7.16pm Henman looked more convincing, quickly winning his first service game and then putting the Brazilian under pressure in the next game with several big forehands and one exquisite backhand topspin lob.
The aggression brought Henman the first break of serve but he was still struggling for his best form, winning his next serve only after five deuces. The light was rapidly fading on Centre Court and Henman seemed bothered by the flash photography, but he was clearly seeing the ball better than his opponent.
And in the ninth game he upped his game to break Sa's serve when the Brazilian pushed a forehand into the net for Henman to take the first set 6-3. The rain promptly came down again and the players left the court for the evening.
Filed by Shane Murray
